Harrows



June 14, 1966 J. H. KIRKPATRICK, JR 3,255,831

HARROWS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1965 INVENTORJu/X/IZrfipairz'a 2;

BY M

ATTORNEYS June 1966 J. H. KIRKPATRICK, JR 3,255,831

HARROWS "Jriginal Filed Aug. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N E k gQ- l m M QQ i} El E1] 4 Q a] Q Y l 1: 7 g e, a. n l| L l June 1966 J. H.KIRKPATRICK, JR 3,255,831

HARROWS Griginal Filed Aug. 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYJune 14, 1966 J. H. KIRKPATRICK, JR 3,255,831

HARROWS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 EIEII I 5 INVENTORTL-9 J0/m m'rfi aaii'ic/f,

QKNEY June 1956 J. H. KIRKPATRICK, JR 3,255,831

HARROWS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1963 INVENTOR ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,255,831 HARROWS .l'ohn I-I. Kirkpatrick, Jr.,Mulbrook Farm, Rte. 3, Clyde, N.C.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 301,932, Aug. 5, 1963, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 79,868, Dec. 30, 1960. Thisapplication June 17, 1964, Ser. No. 376,311

22 Claims. (Cl. 172-611) The present application is a continuation of myapplication Serial No. 301,932, filed August 5, 1963 which is acontinuation of my application Serial No. 79,868, filed December 30,1960, which in turn is a continuation-inpart of my earlier applicationSerial No. 18,435, filed March 29, 1960, all now abandoned.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in agriculturalimplements, and more particularly to an implement of a toothed harrowtype combining the functions of a drag and harrow and embodying one ormore toothed drag bars equipped with soil engaging teeth, which may beused either alone or preferably in conjunction with other cultivatingimplements which may be of any suitable type. j

A distinctive feature of the preferred toothed drag bars of my inventionresides in the peculiar mounting of such drag bars with reference to theframe of the implement and with reference to each other where more thanone drag bar is employed, such mounting permitting each drag bar to movewith a distinctive raising and lowering as well as a rolling and rockingmovement, independently of the implement frame and of any other dragbar, when any one of the drag bars encounters a massive obstruction suchas a stone, tree root or the like. By reason of this peculiar mountingbreakage of the teeth is pre vented, jarring of the frame is avoided,and continued operation of the drag bar is effected as soon as theobstruction has been passed over. Such distinctive mounting of the dragbars also facilitates self-cleaning of the drag bar teeth when mattedgrass, roots or 'the like are encountered. In accordance with myinvention each drag bar, while independently movable with reference tothe frame and with reference to any other drag bar, as above described,is provided with means yieldingly biasing or urging the drag bar teethinto the soil so that as soon as a massive obstacle has been passed overas above described, the teeth are again brought into operative, soilengaging position by said biasing means.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an agriculturalimplement which is capable of performing the combined functions ofinitially breaking the soil after the manner of a plow, and thereafterperforming the additional functions of crushing the clods and levelingthe ground after the manner of a drag or the like, pulverizing the soilafter the manner of a harrow, and finally raking the soil after themanner of a rake or the like. If desired other agricultural implementsor tools, such as seeders, fertilizer distributors, or the like, may beincluded in the combined implement as by attaching the same at the rearof the raking device or at any other suitable location. It is preferredthat the seeding process follow immediately after the seed bedpreparation to take advantage of the moisture in the soil to insurequick germination, and this may be accomplished, as indicated above, byattaching the fertilizer distributor and/or seeder immediately in therear of the cultivating tools. By this means the loss of moisture isavoided and proper germination insured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of this typewherein one or more tooth-equipped drag bars are movably connected to aframe and to one another if two or more bars are provided.

Another object is to provide an implement of the harrow type wherein atooth-equipped drag bar is equipped Patented June 14, 1966 with suitablebiasing means for yieldably maintaining the teeth thereof in engagementWith the soil while permitting the teeth to clear obstructions such asrocks, tree stumps, and the like, the movable drag connection to thedrag bar being such as to facilitate clearance of such obstructions bymeans of each individual drag bar independently of the frame and withoutthe necessity of lifting the whole implement off the ground.

Another object is to provide a harrow type implement wherein a pluralityof tooth-equipped drag bars, movably connected together in tandem, mayindividually and successively clear an obstruction as the implementpasses over the same the clearing movement of each drag bar beingeffected without disturbing the engagement of teeth on the other dragbars in the set with the soil.

Another object is to provide an implement of this type wherein themovable connection between several drag bars in the set is such that theangular relation of the teeth on each drag bar to the ground may beadjusted,

individually for each bar, without affecting the others.

Another object is to provide an implement of this type wherein theseveral toothed drag bars in the set are also connected to an implementframe by suitable flexible connecting means to permit raising andlowering thereof by a conventional tractor lift mechanism, suchconnection being adjustable so that the sequence of engagement anddisengagement of the teeth of the various bars with the soil may bevaried as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of this typewherein the drag bars are hollow and adapted to receive liquidballasting material to vary their effective weight,

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of this typewhich has a frame particularly adapted for connection to and supportingengagement with one or more additional earth working implementspreferably disposed forwardly of the leading drag bar, the inventionproviding novel bracket means to make such connection possible. Suchadditional implements may be of any suitable type, as for example, disccultivators, plowlike implements or other harrows.

Another advantage of the invention resides in its simple construction,efficient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability toeconomical manufacture.

With the foregoing objects and features in view, and such other objectsand features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, theinvention will be understood from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters ofreference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of implement embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially inthe plane of the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the drag bars;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail showing one means for i the mounting ofone of the drag bar teeth;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view showing a set of drag barswith the teethof one of them clearing an obstruction, the .parts beingshown in slightly different relative positions than in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 6 but showing a modifiedconstruction, parts being broken away;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modifiedembodiment of the implement frame and its connection to a frame memberof a leading auxiliary implement;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scaleshowing the arrangement of bracket means a for connecting the implementframe of FIG. 8 to a frame member of the leading, auxiliary implement;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 1010 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view similar to that shown in FIG. 8 butillustrating another arrangement of the bracket means;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view showing another arrangement of the bracketmeans;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view showing still another arrangement of thebracket means;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modifiedarrangement of the counterweighted drag bar and FIG. 15 is a sectionaldetail taken substantially in the plane of the line 1515 in FIG. 14.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularlyto FIGS. 16, showing one form of the device, an agricultural implementembodying my invention is shown which comprises an overhead main frame1, which frame may be supported for raising and lowering movement by theconventional three-point lift mechanism of a suitable tractor T, orwhich may be supportably mounted, as hereinafter described, on asupplemental or lead implement 28 of the soil breaking type carried bythe lift mechanism 5. In either event, suitable means 4 are provided forattaching the frame 1, or the implement 28 as the case may be, to thelift mechanism 5, as will be readily apparent.

The supplemental or lead implement 28 is provided with suitable earthworking tools 29 which may be of any conventional type, but are shown asof the shovel plow type, and the toothed drag bar implement embodying myinvention is drawn by the frame 1 rearwardly of the tools 29.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 1-6 the toothed drag bars 6, 7 and 8are shown as of hollow cylindrical construction, this construction beingfound suitable for various purposes, since it permits regulation of theweight of the drag bars, but the invention is obviously not limited tothe use of drag bars of any particular form or construction, other formsbeing shown, for example, in FIG. 7, and still others, such as ovalbars, either hollow or solid, or flat bars, either hollow or solid,being capable of substitution for the hollow cylinders of the preferredembodiment, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it beingunderstood that the function of such drag bars is two-fold, namely tocrush and level the ground, and secondly to provide a support for theharrow teeth.

The main frame 1 includes longitudinal side members 2 connected togetherat their front end portions by transverse members 3. A set of tootheddrag bars herein shown as three in number 6, 7 and 8 are shown disposedin tandem below the frame and are movably connected together and to theframe, by suitable flexible connecting means 12 and 13, as will behereinafter described. Any desired number of such drag bars may beemployed. The toothed drag bars preferably project laterally beyond themain frame side members 2 in order that the teeth 19 carried by the dragbars may work the soil traversed by the wheels of. the tractor T as wellas the soil between the wheel tracks.

As shown, each of the drag bars 6, 7 and 8 has secured thereto at itsleading portion transversely spaced arcuate wing plates 14, these beingdisposed at the front or leading portions of the drag bars and providedwith sets of apertures 15 located both above and below the longitudinalaxes of the respective bars. The leading drag bar 6 is movably connectedto the main frame 1 by flexible draft means in the form of lengths ofchain 13, the front ends of which are suitably attached to the frame 1while their rear ends are adjustably connected to the wing plates 14 onthe bar 6 by means of pins 59 (FIG. 6-) selectively received in theapertures 15 of these plates.

Each of the drag bars is freely movable independent of the frame and ofeach other and subject to an up and down as well as a generally rotaryor oscillating movement about a longitudinal axis.

The arcuate wing plates 14 on the drag bars- 6 and 7 have securedthereto lost motion connection means, herein shown as curved guide rodmembers 16 which extend around the rear portions of the bars in spacedrelation therefrom as indicated at 17. The second drag bar 7 is movablyconnected to the leading bar 6 by flexible draft and biasing means inthe form of the chains 12, the front ends of which are slidablyconnected to the curved guide iembers 16 on the trailing portion of thetoothed drag bar 6, while their rear ends are adjustably connected tothe wing plates 14 on the leading portion of the drag bar 7. Thetrailing or raking drag bar 8 is movably connected to the intermediatebar 7 by the chains 12 which are slidably connected at their front endsto the lost motion connection means 16 on the bar 7 and adjustablyconnected at their rear ends to the wing plates 14 on the drag bar 3.

To facilitate raising of the toothed drag bars 6, 7 and 8 off the groundby the tractor lift mechanism 5, lengths of lift chain 9 are provided,these having eyes 10 at one end which are slidable on the curved guidemembers 16 of the bars 6 and 7, while in the instance of the bar 8 theeyes 10 of the chains 9 are suitably secured to the upper ends of thearcuate wing plates 14 on that bar. The lifting chains 9 are adjustablyconnected to hooks 11 provided at the underside of the frame members 2,so that when the implement is to be transported without the teeth 19engaging the soil, the drag bars 6, 7 and 8 may be raised off the groundby the frame 1 upon actuation of the lift mechanism 5. It will beapparent that the effective length of the lifting chains 9 may beadjusted by their connection to the hooks 11 on frame 1, so as tocontrol the sequence in which the drag bars are raised from and loweredto the ground. Similarly, if in operation the frame 1 is not parallel tothe ground, adjustment of the lifting chains 9 will assure that any oneor more of the drag bars is in contact with the ground until the otherbars have moved out of ground contact, thus enabling the operator of thetractor to provide for final working of the soil by any selected dragbar when he raises the frame 1 at the end of a traverse across thefield.

While in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 the guide members 16 to whichthe trailing draft members or chains 12 are so attached as to provide alost motion connection therefore so as to permit each of the drag barsto move independently of one another, are shown as arcuate in form andcoaxial with the cylindrical drag bars to which they are attached, it isnot necessary that they be of this particular form, the importantfeature of such guide members being that they serve to provide a lostmotion connection for the draft means 12 connected to a trailing dragbar 7 or 8. These guide members or ring members 16 also permit lostmotion of the chains 9 which are connected at their upper ends to theside members 2 of the left frame 1.

As shown, the teeth 19 are adjustably mounted in V- shaped toothbrackets 20 secured at spaced points to the rear or trailing portions ofthe drag bars 6, 7 and 8. Such mounting of the teeth at the rear of thedrag bar and away from the axial center of the drag bar provides addedleverage for the rolling and rocking movement which takes place when atooth or teeth contact an obstruction as illustrated in FIG. 6, andtends to reduce the breakage of the teeth, the jar on the implementframe, as well as to facilitate the self-cleaning action of the teethwhen matted roots, grasses or the like are encountered, as previouslyset forth.

As is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each tooth bracket 20 includes sidemembers 21, 22 joined at the apex 23, at which point the bracket issecured to the trailing portion of the associated drag bar. One sidemember, such as the member 22, is provided with an open slot 24 and theother side member 21 is provided with an aperture 25. The tooth 19 isadjustably secured in the bracket by a bent, headed bolt 26 whichextends through the aperture and slot 24, so that when a nut 27 isapplied to the bolt the latter embraces and clamps the tooth 19 inplace. The teeth on the several drag bars may be adjusted vertically inthe brackets 20 in order that different lengths of the teeth may extendbelow the drag bars for greater or less penetration of the soil overwhich the implement is drawn.

The trailing or raking drag bar 8 is shown as provided at the topthereof with rearwardly extending arms 18 having counterweights Wprovided thereon whereby to additionally yieldably urge or bias theteeth 19 of the bar 8 into the soil.

It will be apparent that by selectively positioning the pins 50 of thechains 12, 13 in the apertures 15 of the wing plates 14, the angularrelationship of the teeth 19 to the ground may be varied as exemplifiedin FIGS. 1 and 6, to obtain the maximum crushing action of the drag barsand the cutting action of the teeth. carried thereby, the particularadjustment in a given instance being dependent on various factors suchas the type of soil and the type of surface covering, if any, for suchsoil, as for example, grass matted roots, or the like.

When the implement is in operation the flexible draft means afforded bythe chains 12, 13 will permit the drag bars 6, 7 and 8 to move with afloating and rolling or rocking movement in response to varyingresistance encountered by the teeth 19 in the soil, such movement beingpossible for any one bar without affecting the others and independent ofthe frame 1. Such movement is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein it will benoted that the teeth 19 of the drag bar 7 have encountered a massiveresistance, as for example, a tree stump 51, causing the teeth to beraised sufliciently to clear the obstruction. The flexible 'chain 12extending from the bar 7 to the bar 6 permits the drag bar 6 to beunaffected by the movement of the drag bar 7, and-similarly, the slidingconnection of the chain 12 on the lost motion connection means 16 of thedrag bar 7 prevents the movement of the drag bar 7 to be transmitted tothe raking drag bar 8. It will be also noted that during the movement ofthe bar 7 the eye 19 of the associated lifting chain 9 also slides onthe lost motion connection means 16 without interfering with the barmovement.

It will be noted that the floating and rolling or rocking movement ofeach individual drag bar, on encountering an obstruction as describedabove, combines rotation of the bar about a longitudinal axis parallelto the bar, with an upward floating movement of the bar as a whole dueto the flexible chain connection 12 or 13.

The teeth 19 on the various drag bars 6, 7, 8 will individually,independently and successively clear the obstruction 51 as the implementpasses over it, and after the raking drag bar 8 has cleared theobstruction the counterweights W thereon will cause the teeth of thatbar to again penetrate the soil. It is to be noted that while themovement of the bar 7 as depicted in FIG. 6 has been described inconjunction with the obstruction 51, a certain amount of such movementtakes place even in the absence of a massive obstruction by virtue ofvarying resistances offered by the soil to the Working action of theteeth 19 when the implement is drawn forwardly.

The toothed drag bars 6, 7 and 8 are preferably hollow as indicated atand provided with a filling aperture and closure plug 31 whereby thebars may be filled, either partially or totally, with water or otherliquid to serve as a ballast or biasing means, if so desired, and theliquid may be removed to facilitate lifting of the bars in transit.While three of the bars (6, 7 and 8) have been shown,

they may be used singly by employing the counter-' weighted bar 8 alone,or any suitable number of bars may be connected together in tandem.Moreover, While the bars have been shown as cylindrical, they may be ofany hollow cylindrical drag bars of FIGS. 16.

any suitable shape while still providing for selective positioning ofthe fulcrum pins in the apertures 15.

It will be further noted that while in the case of the trailing drag bar8 a counterweight is employed as an additional means urging or biasingthe drag bar teeth into the soil, such biasing effect is accomplished inthe case of the two leading drag bars without the aid of acounterweight, this being accomplished solely by the weight of thetoothed drag bars supplemented by the draft connections 12 and 13. Theseforces are also effective in the case of the rear drag bar,thecounterweight W serving in this instance as additional biasing means.In each instance, however, the drag bar is freely movable upwardly,downwardly and with a rolling or rocking movement independently of theimplement frame and also independently of any other drag bar, this beinga distinctive feature of my invention.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a modification wherein different forms of dragbars are employed in place of the In this figure only the last tootheddrag bar 7' is shown together with a weight-biased raking drag 8 itbeing understood that one or more additional toothed drag bars may beemployed in advance of the drag bar 7'. As shown the drag bar 7' is ofdiamond shape in cross section and is provided with one or more collars14 having apertures 12 therein for selective attachment of chains 12 andhaving lost motion connection means 16 corresponding to members 16 ofthe previously described embodiment for attachment of the chains 12connecting the toothed drag bar 7' to the raking drag bar 8* at the rearthereof. Lifting chains 9 are also attached to the members 16 as in thepreviously described embodiment of the invention. Raking teeth 19 arecarried by brackets 20 connected to the drag bar 7'.

The trailing raking drag bar is shown in cross section as comprising aflexible member 8 having apertures therein adapted to tightly grip theraking teeth 19 when inserted therein.

Brackets 106 are secured to the raking drag bar 18 at suitable intervalsas by welding or the like, and provide extension arms 18 carryingweights W.

FIGS. 813 illustrate various arrangements of bracket means whereby theimplement frame side members 2 may be connected to the frame of anauxiliary implement 28 such as a discharrow, for example. These bracketmeans are of a universal nature and adapted to fit, for example, anauxiliary implement frame member of a rectangular cross-section as shownin FIGS. 810, or a member 61 of an L-shaped cross-section as in FIG. 11,or a member 62 of a diamond cross-section as in FIG. 12, or a tubularframe member 63 as in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIGS. 8-13 the bracket means comprises a perforated plate 65provided at one edge thereof with a right-angular flange 66, and aright-angle bracket 67 formed in one side thereof with a V-shaped notch68. A pair of clamping bolts 69 extend through the other side of thebracket 67 and through the flange 66 of the plate 65, whereby to clampthe frame member 60 of the auxiliary implement therebetween, as shown inFIGS.

8-10. The plate 65 is secured by suitable bolts 70 to the frame member 2and a brace 71 may extend from the frame member 2 to the plate 65, beingattached to the former by a bolt 72 and to the latter by a bolt 72 InFIG. 11 the L-shaped frame member 61 is similarly clamped between thebracket 67 and the flange 66 by the bolts 69, but spacers of wood orother compressible material are provided in the frame member, asindicated at 73.

In FIG. 12 the position of the bracket 67 is reversed so that thediamond-shaped cross-section of the frame member 62 fits in the notch68. A complemental block 74 is welded or otherwise secured to the member62 opposite to the bracket 67 and has a flat face 75' to engage theflange 66 of the plate 65.

In FIG. 13 the tubular frame member 63 is accommodated in the notch 68of the bracket 67 at one side and is provided at the relatively oppositeside with a complemental block 76 having a fiat face 77 to engage theflange 66.

In all instances the flanged plate 65 and the notched bracket 67 areutilized universally in a manner which permits the frame member 2 to beeither above or below the frame member of the auxiliary implement, withthe plate 65 disposed above, below, forwardly or rearwardly of theauxiliary implement frame member, so that the matter of attaching theframe member 2 to the auxiliary implement may in all instances beeffected with ease and convenience.

Referring again to FIG. 8, it will be noted that in the arrangementillustrated the draft chain 13 of the leading drag bar 6 is connected atits front end by a bolt 78 to the lower end of a strap 80, the latterbeing provided with suitable apertures and slots 81 to receive bolts 82whereby the strap 80 may be adjustably secured to the frame side member2 and to the brace 71. If preferred, the strap 80 may be secured invarious selected positions to the plate 65, as will be readily apparent.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a modified arrangement of the counterweightedraking drag bar 8 which, instead of being connected by the draft chains11 to the drag bar 7 as in FIGS. 1 and 6, is in this instance providedat the ends thereof with trunnions 84 which are rotatably journalled inbearing blocks 85. The latter are grooved as at 86 and slidablevertically between spaced guides 87, as indicated at 83. The upper endportions of the guides 87 are provided with apertures 89 to receivebolts 90 whereby the guides are adjustably secured to brackets 91provided at the rear end of the frame members 2.

When this embodiment of the invention is placed in operation the dragbar teeth 19 are biased intothe soil not only by the counterweight Wacting on the raking drag bar 8, but also by the weight of the drag baritself, which is urged downwardly by gravity as facilitated by thesliding action of the bearing blocks 85 in the guides 87. As the teeth19 of the bar encounter various resistances in the soil the bar 8 mayturn about the axis of the trunnions 84 under the yieldable bias of thecounterweight W, and the drag bar may also rise and fall as indicated at88.

If desired a suitable draw bar B may be attached at any convenientlocation, as for example at the rear of the raking drag bar attachment,for the attachment of other agricultural implements, as for examplefertilizer spreaders, seeders or the like, not shown.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown in thepreferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosureand various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, such asmay lie within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

It will be understood that in the accompanying claims the term biasingapplies not only to the yielding weightforce relationship provided bythe counterweights W and W carried by the trailing or raking drag bars 8and 8*, but applies also to the leading toothed drag bars 6, 7 and 7 byreason of their weight and of the adjustable connection provided by theflexible chains 12, 12 and 13 and the apertured wing plates or collars14 and 14'.

I claim:

1. In a harrow, an implement frame adapted to be connected to a draftsource, an elongated drag bar, flexible draft means connecting the dragbar to the frame, a pair of wing plates carried by the drag bar atlongitudinally spaced points thereof, said wing plates extendingoutwardly of the bar and transversely of the longitudinal axis thereofand each plate being provided with a vertical series of spaced aperturesincluding apertures disposed above and apertures disposed below ahorizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the drag bar,said wing plates being disposed along the leading edge of the drag bar,means for adjustably connecting the draft means to said wing platesrespectively in any one of said apertures and a plurality of harrowteeth carried by said drag bar at longitudinally spaced points along thetrailing edge thereof and depending therefrom for engagement with thesoil and lost motion connecting means comprising guide members connectedto said wing plates and spaced from and curved about the bar, a seconddrag bar mounted in trailing relation to the leading drag bar and draftmeans between the trailing drag bar and said lost motion device.

2. In a harrow, an implement frame adapted to be connected to a draftsource, an elongated transverse drag bar, flexible draft means forconnecting the drag bar to the frame, a pair of. generally arcuate wingplates carried by the drag bar as longitudinally spaced points thereof,said wing plates extending outwardly of the bar and transversely of thelongitudinal axis thereof and each plate being provided with acorresponding series of arcuately spaced apertures including aperturesdisposed above and apertures disposed below a horizontal plane passingthrough the longitudinal axis of the drag bar with correspondingapertures in the respective wing plates being substantially aligned in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar, said wing platesbeing disposed along the leading edge of the drag bar, means foradjustably connecting the draft means to said Wing plates respectivelyin any pair of corresponding apertures and a plurality of harrow teethcarried by said drag bar at longitudinally spaced points along thetrailing edge thereof and depending therefrom for engagement with thesoil and lost motion connection means comprising guide members connectedto said wing plates and spaced from and curved about said drag bar, asecond drag bar mounted in trailing relation to the leading drag bar anddraft means between the trailing drag bar and said lost motion device.

3. A harrow comprising an implement frame member, an elongatedtransverse drag bar, flexible means for attachment to the drag bardepending from the frame member, means for connecting the frame memberto a tractor or the like, flexible draft means for attaching the dragbar to the frame member, a pair of wing plates carried by the drag barat longitudinally spaced points thereof, said wing plates extendingoutwardly of the bar and transversely of the longitudinal axis thereofand each plate being provided with a vertical series of spaced aperturesincluding apertures disposed above and apertures disposed below ahorizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the drag bar,said-wing plates being disposed along the leading edge of the drag bar,means for adjustably connecting the flexible draft means to said wingplates respectively in any one of said apertures and a plurality ofharrow teeth carried by said drag bar at longitudinally spaced pointsalong the trailing edge thereof and depending therefrom for engagementwith the soil and lost motion connection means comprising guide membersconnected to said wing plates and spaced from and curved about said dragbar for attachment of said flexible means depending from the frame asecond drag bar mounted in trailing relation to the leading drag bar anddraft means between the trailing drag bar and said lost motion device.

4. In a toothed harrow type implement, the combinat1on of an implementframe adapted to be connected to a draft source, an elongated transversedrag bar having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, asoil engaging tooth mounted on and extending downwardly from thetrailing edge portion of said bar, a forwardly projecting wing plateprovided on the leading edge portion of the bar and formed with a set ofvertically spaced apertures, a fulcrum element selectively positioned insaid apertures, an elongated and flexible draft element connected tosaid fulcrum element and extending forwardly therefrom for connection tosaid frame, means for yieldably biasing said tooth into the soil, andlost motion means carried at the trailing edge of said drag bar, spacedtherefrom and curved thereabout, a second drag bar mounted in trailingrelation to the leading drag bar and draft means between the trailingdrag bar and said lost motion device.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the biasing means of thetrailing drag bar includes a counterweight disposed rearwardly of andconnected to said trailing drag bar.

6. In a harrow, a plurality of drag bars, means for connecting the dragbars in tandem relation comprising spaced wing plates on the leadingedges of the drag bars and extending forwardly therefrom in planesgenerally transverse to the longitudinal axes of the respective bars,each wing plate having a series of spaced apertures in cluding aperturesdisposed above and apertures disposed below horizontal planes passingthrough the longitudinal axes of the respective bars, and lost motionconnecting means carried by the drag bars and projecting rearwardly fromthe trailing edges thereof for connection of draft means to the dragbars trailing therefrom, said lost motion connecting means beingdisposed in planes transverse to the longitudinal axes of the drag barsand including portions curved about and in spaced relation to said dragbars, draft members adjustably connected to the wing plates of eachtrailing drag bar, means slidably connecting said draft means to theattached lost motion connection means immediately adjacent leading dragbars, additional draft members for adjustably connecting the wing platesof the leading drag bar to a tractor or the like and harrow teethcarried by the drag bars and spaced along the trailing edges thereof.

7. The harrow described in claim 6 wherein said first andsecond-mentioned draft means are flexible members and wherein thecorresponding apertures in the wing plates of each drag bar are disposedin alignment along lines substantially parallel to the longitudinal axesof the respective drag bars. v

8. A drag bar for toothed harrows comprising an elongated bar memberhaving wing plates attached thereto at longitudinally spaced pointsalong the leading edge thereof, said wing plates being disposed inplanes generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bar, saidwing plates each having a series of spaced apertures with correspondingapertures in the plates being aligned along lines generally parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the bar, a plurality of harrow teeth secured inlongitudinally spaced relation to the trailing edge of the bar anddepending therefrom in soil-engaging relation thereto, and a pluralityof lost motion connection means secured to the bar in longitudinallyspaced relation and extending rearwardly therefrom and includingportions in spaced relation to the surface of the bar in generallyconcentric relation to the longitudinal axis of the bar.

9. The drag bar described in claim 8 wherein the bar member is hollowand provided with a filling aperture to provide for ballasting the barwith liquid when desired.

10. A harrow comprising a frame having means for connecting it to adraft source, a plurality of transverse elongated drag bars connected intandem, means connecting the leading drag bar in draft relation to aforward point of said frame with the drag bars underlying the frame,flexible means for attachment to the drag bars depending from said frameand means for flexibly interconnecting the drag bars to one another tocause rocking movement of the drag bars about the respectivelongitudinal axes thereof when in operation, including flexible draftmeans connecting the trailing edge of a leading drag bar to a leadingedge of a trailing drag bar, adjustable connections for varying theheight of the point of connection of said flexible draft means to theleading edges of the draft bars with respect to a horizontal planepassing through the longitudinal axis thereof, lost-motion' connectionmeans carried by one of said leading draft bars curved thereabout andspaced therefrom for attachment of said flexible means depending fromsaid frame and for connecting said flexible draft means to the trailingedge of the trailing drag bar, and a plurality of harrow teeth carriedby the drag bars in longitudinal spaced relation along the trailingedges thereof.

11. The harrow described in claim 9 wherein the rearmost drag bar isprovided with a rearwardly extending counter-balancing arm and acounter-balancing weight member adjustably mounted on said arm.

12. The harrow described in claim 10 wherein the frame member includes aportion, adjacent to the connection means, for supporting an auxiliaryearth-working implement in depending relation to the frame and forwardlyof the foremost drag bar.

13. The harrow described in claim 10 wherein said flexible meansdepending from said frame are adjustable in length whereby to controlthe sequence of engagement and of disengagement of the drag bar with thesoil when the frame is raised and lowered.

14. A drag bar for harrows comprising an elongated generally cylindricalbar member, spaced wing plates carried by the bar member and disposed toextend forwardly from the leading edge thereof when in use, said wingplates being each provided with a series of spaced apertures, saidseries of apertures including apertures disposed above and aperturesdisposed below a horizontal plane passing through a longitudinal axis ofthe bar, plural lost motion connection members secured to the bar andextending rearwardly therefrom in longitudinal spaced relation, saidlost motion connection members being disposed in planes substantiallytransverse to the longitudinal axis of the drag bar and each beingprovided with a trailing portion disposed in spaced relation to andcurved about the drag bar, a second drag bar mounted in trailingrelation to the leading drag bar and draft means between the trailingdrag bar and said lost motion device and means carried by each drag baron the trailing edge thereof to mount a plurality of harrow teeth inlongitudinally spaced relation thereon.

15. A drag bar for harrows comprising an elongated bar member, pluraldraft attaching means carried by the bar at spaced longitudinallyaligned points thereon, means for adjustably connecting draft means toeach of said draft attaching means at any one of a plurality of pointsdisplaced angularly about the axis of said bar, means for mounting aplurality of harrow teeth on said bar at spaced longitudinally alignedpoints, said draft attaching means and said harrow teeth mounting meansbeing disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said dragbar, and lost motion connection means carried at the trailing portion ofsaid drag bar curved thereabout and spaced therefrom, a second drag barmounted in trailing relation to the leading drag bar and draft meansbetween the trailing drag bar and said lost motion device.

16. The drag bar described in claim 15 wherein the draft attaching meanscomprises a wing plate secured to the bar and provided with a pluralityof apertures angularly :spaced about the axis of the bar.

17. The drag bar described in claim 15 wherein said bar is hollow and isprovided with a filling aperture and closure plug whereby said bar maybe ballasted with being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinalaxis of said drag bar, said bar being provided with additional draftattaching means disposed on the same side of the longitudinal axis ofthe bar as are the harrow teeth with reference to the mounting means,said additional draft attaching means including last motion connectionsextending in spaced relation to the bar and substantially arcuatelyabout the longitudinal axis thereof.

19. In a toothed harrow type implement, the combination of a drawn frameelevated from the ground, a plurality of transverse drag bars disposedin tandem below the level of said frame and each having a leading edgeportion and a trailing edge portion, soil engaging teeth mounted on andextending downwardly from the trailing edge portions of said drag bars,forwardly projecting wing plates provided on the leading edge portionsof the bars and formed with sets of vertically spaced apertures, fulcrumelements selectively positioned in the apertures of said (wing plates,elongated flexible draft elements connected at one end thereof to saidframe and extending rearwardly therefrom, the other end of said draftelements being connected to the fulcrum elements on the wing plates ofthe leading draft bar in the set, lost motion connection means carriedby and curved about the trailing portions of each of the drag barsexcept the last for attachment of drag means for the trailing bar, saidlast named draft means comprising elongated and flexible draft elementsmovably connected at one end to the said lost motion connecting means atthe trailing edge portion of all but the trailing one of said bars, saiddraft elements being connected at their other ends to the fulcrumelements on the wing plates of the succeeding bars, and a counterweightdisposed rearwardly of and connected to the trailing one of said bars,and flexible means depending from said frame and attached to all but therearmost of said drag 'bars by means of said lost motion means, saiddrag bars being freely movable up and down independently of saidimplement frame and each of the drag bars being rotatable independentlyof the others.

20. The device as defined in claim 19 wherein said lost motion meanscomprises curved rod members provided on the trailing edge portions ofall but the trailing one of said bars, said additional draft elementsbeing slida'bly connected at said one end thereof to said curved rodmembers.

21. A harrow comprising an overhead frame, a plurality ofin-tandem-relation drag bars, flexible draft means for the drag bars, aplurality of harrow teeth fixed adjustably at intervals to the trailingedge of each drag bar and depending therefrom for engagement with thesoil, and lost motion connection means carried by and curved about eachlead draft bar for attachment of the draft means of the trailing barwhereby each of the drag bars is rotatable about a longitudinal axis andoperates independently of the Others.

22. In a toothed harrow type implement, the combination of a draftsource, a clod crushing drag bar normally engaging the ground andsupported thereby and extending transversely of the direction ofmovement of the implement, soil penetrating teeth carried by the dragbar, a draft element flexibly connected at one end thereof to the draftsource and connected at the other end to the leading edge of said dragbar, said drag bar being at all times freely movable up and downindependently of the draft source and freely rotatable about alongitudinal axis, and lost motion connection means extending insubstantially uniformly spaced relation to said drag bar for attachmentof said draft means for a trailing drag bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 222,864 12/1879Campbell l72620 409,391 8/1889 Casey 172--150 675,428 6/1901 Voorhees172-625 2,574,468 11/ 1951 Denton 172--6 11 XR 2,629,217 2/1953 Kuehn etal. 172621 XR 2,674,836 4/1954 Schulte 172713 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 187,33110/ 1956 Austria. 660,962 11/1951 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

T. GRAHAM CRAVER, Examiner.

JIMMIE R. OAKS, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A HARROW, AN IMPLEMENT FRAME ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A DRAFTSOURCE, AN ELONGATED DRAG BAR, FLEXIBLE DRAFT MEANS CONNECTING THE DRAGBAR TO THE FRAME, A PAIR OF WING PLATES CARRIED BY THE DRAG BAR ATLONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS THEREOF, SAID WING PLATES EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY OF THE BAR AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOFAND EACH PLATE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VERTICAL SERIES OF SPACED APERTURESINCLUDING APERTURES DISPOSED ABOVE AND APERTURES DISPOSED BELOW AHORIZONTAL PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE DRAG BAR,SAID WING PLATES BEING DISPOSED ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE DRAG BAR,MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY CONNECTING THE DRAFT MEANS TO SAID WING PLATESRESPECTIVELY IN ANY ONE OF SAID APERTURES AND A PLURALITY OF HARROWTEETH CARRIED BY SAID DRAG BAR AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS ALONG THETRAILING EDGE THEREOF AND DEPENDING THEREFROM FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THESOIL AND LOST MOTION CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING GUIDE MEMBERS CONNECTEDTO SAID WING PLATES AND SPACED FROM AND CURVED ABOUT THE BAR, A SECONDDRAG BAR MOUNTED IN TRAILING RELATION TO THE LEADING DRAG BAR AND SHAFTMEANS BETWEEN THE TRAILING DRAG BAR AND SAID LOST MOTION DEVICE.